Apparatus for controlling railway switches



May 7, 1929.

H. S'. LOOMISA APPARATUS FOR-CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Feb. 11,1927 2 sheeis-sneet 1 INVENTOR I 11-11-1111: -------IIL May 7, 1929.` H.s'. LooMls 1,711,570

l APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES l I' l Filed Feb. 11,. 19272 Sheets-sheetl 2 L J\ 410 A I 'Y 6:6 61. 6,6 '71566 26 J66266656' 636 il ,58 59 25% '6g gg ./g T y 601,. "-{Kg 25a 63 69 25 `-`HI I fig?. 4,0

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Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATESA PATENT oFI-u'cE.

HAROLD S. LGOMIS, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0V THE UNIONSWITCH`& SIGNAL COMQPANY, 0F S'WISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA., A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES.

Appli-cation led February 11, 1927.

My invention relates to apparatus for controlling railway switches, andparticularly to apparatus suitable for operation from a distant pointwith a minimum number of line wires between such point and the switch.

I will describe several forms of apparatus embodying my invention, andwill then point out the novel Jfeatures thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing oneform of apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 arediagrammatic views showing several modiiications of a portion of theapparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 and also embodying vmy invention.

Similar reference characters rei'er to similar `parts in each of theseveral views.

' Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters 1 and 1Eldesignate the rails at a stretch of railway track which is provided witha switch 2 of the usual and well knownk form. This switch is operated bya fluid pressure motor A comprising a cylinder 3 containing areciprocable piston 4. Attached to the piston l is a plunger 5 which isoperatively connected with the movable pointsl of the switch 2 throughsuitable mechanism which is indicated by the dotted line 5a.

The motor A is controlled byva switch valve C. vThis valve comprises aslide valve 7 operating in a valve chamber 6 which, in the form hereshown, is constantly supplied with fluid pressure from a source notshown in the drawing through pipe 11. yWhen the slide valve is in itsnormal position, in which it is illustrated in the drawing, fluid pres`sure is supplied from chamber 6, through pipe 10 to the lower end ofcylinder 3 of motor A, and the upper end of kthis cylinder is connectedwith atmosphere through pipe 8 and port 9. IVith the valve in thisposition, therefore, piston l is moved upwardly and the switch thenoccupies what I shall hereinafter term its normal position. When theslide valve 7 occupies its reverse position, pipe 3 is connected withchamber 6 and pipe 10 is connected through port 9 to atmosphere. Thepiston 4 is then driven downward and the switch 2 is moved to itsreverse position.

Valve 7 is provided with two spaced Serial N0. 167,523.

notches 15 and 16 arranged to receive a locking rod 17 when the valve isin the reverse or normal position, respectively. Rod 1.7 is constantlyurged toward the slide valve I 18 associated with a lock magnet 19.'When the lock magnet 19 is energized', armature 18 1s' moved outwardly,thereby withdrawing the rod 17 from the notch 15 or 16 in the slidevalve and permitting theV valve to be shifted by means which I willdescribe hereinafter. It will be plain, however, that the valve can beshifted only when the lock magnet 19 is energized to lift the rod 17clear of the valve.

The switch valve C also comprises two oppositely disposed axiallyaligned cylinders 12 and 12a. Cylinder 12 contains .a piston 13 carryinga stem 14 which engages' one end of the slide valve 7, and the cylinder12L contains a piston 13a carrying a stem 142L which engages the otherendof the slide valve. Cylinder 12 is at times supplied with fluidpressure by a valve 21 comprising a valve stem 23 controlled by areverse magnet 25 having an armature 24 associated therewith. VJ henreverse magnet v25 is deenergized the valve stem 23 occupies itsletthand position and cylinder 12 is connected with atmosphere. Whenreverse magnet 25 of valve21 is energized, however, the valve stem 23 ismoved to the right and cylinder 12 is disconnected from atmosphere andis connected with a source of iuid pressure. In

by-a spring 20, and it carries an armature similar manner, the valve 22controls the j supply ot fluid pressure to cylinder 12a in such mannerthat when the normal magnet 252101l valve 22 is cle-energized, cylinder'12a is connected with atmosphere, but that when this magnet isenergized cylinder 1 2a is supplied with Huid pressure. It will be plainfrom the drawing that when cylinder 12a is supplied with Huid pressure,piston 13a is moved upwardly to drive valve 7 to its normal position.When cylinder 12k is supplied with fluid pressure however, piston 13moves downward and drives the valve 7 to its reverse position. In eithercase, oi'

course, movement of valve 7 .is possible only ,i

iithe loclr magnet 19 is energized.

The normal magnet 25a, the reverse magnet 25 and the lock magnet 19 arecontrolled by a manually operable switch lever designated in general bythe reference character L. This lever may be located at a. point distantfrom the switch and may, for example, be one of a plurality of suchlevers located in an interlocking machine in an interlocking cabin. Theswitch lever L has the usual normal and reverse positions, correspondingto the normal and reverse positions of the switch, and as shown in thedrawing the lever is in its normal position.

The normal magnet 25a is provided with a circuit which may be tracedfrom the upper terminal of a. suitable source of energy such as abatteryB, through wire 32, norinal contact 33 of lever L, wire 34,conductor 35, wires 36 and 37, asymmetric unit 28, wire 38, normalmagnet 25, wire 39 and conductor 40, bach to the mid-point 27 of thebattery B. The circuit for the reverse magnet 25 may be traced from the1mid-point 27 of `battery B, thro-ugh conductor 40, wires 41, 42 and 43,.reverse magnet 25, wire 44, asymmetric unit 29, conductor 35, and wire50, vreverse contact 51 of lever L, and wire 52 back to the lowerter-minal of battery B. The lock magnet 19 is provided with `one circuitwhich may be traced from the upper ter- 'minail of battery B, throughwire 32, normal contact 33 of lever L, wire 34, conductor 35, wires 3Gand 37, asymmetric unit 28, wires 38 and 53, Contact K2, wires 54 and48, lock magnet 19, wire 47, asymmetric unit 30, wires 75, 41, andconductor v40, back to the midpoint 27 of `battery B. The lock magnet 19is provided with another circuit over which current at times flows fromthe inid-point 27 of battery B through conductor 40, wires 41 and 42,contact K1, wires 46 and 47, lock magnet 19, wires 48 and 49, asymmetricunit 31, wii'e 36, conductor 35, and wire 59, reverse contact 51 oflever L and wire 52 back to the lower terminal of battery B.

The contacts K1 and K2 are operatively connected with the movable pointsof switch 2 and are controlled in such manner that contact K1 is openwhen the switch occupies its extreme reverse position but is closed atall other times, and `Contact K2 is open when the switch occupies itseXtreme normal position, but is closed at all other times.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As shown in the drai'ving,the lever L occupies its normal position so that current is suppliedtothe normal magnet 25a through the asymmetric unit 28, but theasymmetric unit 29 prevents the supply of current to the reverse magnet25. One circuit for the lock magnet 19 is open at contact K2, and theasymmetric unit 31 prevents the flow of current through this magnet overthe remaining circuit. 1t follows that the normal magnet 25 is energizedbut that the reverse magnetv 25 and the lock magnet 19 arecle-energized. The slide valve 7 therefore occupies its normal positionand is locked in this position by the locking rod 17. Under theseconditions fluid pressure is supplied to the lower end of cylinder 3,and piston 4 occupies its upper position so that the switch 2 is normal.

If, now, the operator in charge of lever L -unit 28 prevents the iio'wof current to the normal magnet 25. Contact Kl is closed and currenttherefore flows to the lock nia-gnet 19 over contact K1 and asymmetricunit 30, thereby disengaging the locking rod 17 from the slide valve 7.Viitli the reverse magnet 25 energized, fluid pressure is supplied tocylinder 12 and the slide valve 7 is shifted to the reverse position.Fluid pres sure is then supplied to the upper end of cylinder 3 and theswitch 3 is moved to its reverse position. Vhen the switchfis fullyreversed, Contact K1 opens, thereby deenergizing the lock magnet 19 andpermitting the spring 2O to move the locking rod` 17 into the notch 15to hold the slide valve in the position which it then occupies.

1n similar manner, if trie operator wishes to restore the switch to itsnormal position he returns the lever L to its normal position in whichit is illustrated in the drawing. Current then again flows to the normalniagnet 25 and the reverse magnet 25 becomes de-energized. The contactK2 is closed, however so that current Hows to the lock magnet 19 throughcontact K2 and asymmetric units 28 and 30. rlhe locking rod 17 istherefore withdrawn from engagement with the slide valve 7 and the slidevalve is shifted to its normal position, thereby supplying fluidpressure `to the lower end of cylinder 3 and moving piston 4 upwardly-to restore the switch to its normal position. When the switch reachesits extreme normal position, Contact K2 opens, thereby interrupting thecircuit forlock niagnet19 and causing this magnet to'becomeele-energized.

Each of the asymmetric units 28, 29, 30

and 31 .may for example be of the type dis- ,closed and claimed in anapplication for Letters Patent ofthe United States, Serial No. 1111,filed Jan. 7, 1925, by Lars 0. Grondahl, for Unidirectional currentcarrying devices, and which has matured into Patent Number 1,640,335,dated August 23, 1927 although I do not wishto be limited to anyspecific type of unit.

1t will be plain that by the use of the asymmetric units in conjunctionwith the contacts K1 and K2, the normal, reverse and lock magnets of theusual switch valve may be controlled from a distant point in accordancewith my invention over a single pair of conductors 35 and 40 withoutsacrificing any of the usual elements of safety.

Another arrangement or circuits for con- 'and 19 are omitted tor thesake of simplicity,

only the magnets themselves and their controllingcircuits beingillustrated 1n the drawing. In Fig. 2 when the lever L is in its normalposition, current from battery B flows over normal contact- 33 ot thelever, conductor 35, wires 61 and 62, asymmetric unit 28, normal magnet25, wires 63, 61 and 65, asymmetric unit 55, wires 66, 67, 68, conductor40, normal contact 51 of lever L and back to battery B. It the switch isin its reverse position when this circuit is closed so that contact K2is also closed, current Hows from battery B, over normal contact 33 otlever L, conductor 35 and wire 61, asymmetric unit 59, contact K2, Wire72, lock magnet 19, wire 73, asymmetric unit 60, conductor 40, andnormal contact 51 of lever L, back to battery B. Under these conditionsthe lock magnet is energized and the normal magnet 25a is also energizedso that the switch is shifted to its normal position. When the switchcompletes its stroke, contact K2 opens and the lock magnet 19 thenbecomes de-energized- It now the lever L is moved to its reverseposition, current from battery B flows over thereverse contact 33 of thelever, conductor 40, wires 68 and 67, asymmetric unit 29, reverse magnet25, wires 69, 64 and 70, asymmetric unit 56, wires 71, 62, 61, conductor35, wire 76, reverse contact v51 of lever L and back to battery B. Thereverse magnet 25 is theretore energized and t-he lock magnet 19 is alsoenergized but the normal magnet 25a is de-energized because asymmetricunits 28 and 55 prevent the flow of current to this' magnet.

The slide valve 7 is therefore moved to its reverse position and theswitch 2 is shitted to its reverse position whereupon contact K1 opensand cle-energizes the lock magnet 19. The operation of the apparatuswhen switch lever L is restored to its norma-l position will` bemanifest ytrom theforegoing, without `lurther explanation.

In Fig. 3 the circuits for the normal yand reverse magnets 25L and 25are similar to the circuits for these parts shown in Fig. 2, but thelocking magnet 19 is provided with two circuits, one of which passesfrom conductor 35, through asymmetric unit 59, locking magnet 19 andcontact K2 back to conductor 4G and the other circuit may be traced tromconductor 40, through asymmetric unit 57, locking magnet 19 and contactK1 to conductor 35. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4E thenormal and reverse magnets 25a and 25 are connected in parallel acrossthe conductors 35 and 40. The asymmetric unit 28 is interposed betweenconductor 35 and magnet 25a and the oppositely disposed lasymmetric unit29V is interposed between the Conductor 35 and reverse magnet 25. Thenormal magnet 25a is therefore energized when the switch lever occupiesits normal position and the reverse magnet 25 is enen gized when theswitch lever occupies its reverse position. In the torzmfhere shown thelock magnet is provided with two windings 19a and 19h. When contact K2is closed, winding 19b of the lock magnet is connected in parallel withthe normal magnet .25ay and when contact K1 is closed, the winding`19 oithe lock magnet is connected in parallel with the reverse magnet 25. Theapparatus is so arranged that when energy is supplied lto either of thewindings 192 or 19b of the lock magnet over vone of the circuits justdescribed, the locking rod 17 is withdrawn from the notches in the slidevalve to permit the valve to be shifted.

In the modiiica-tion shown in Fig. the normal and reverse magnets "L and25 are connected in parallel across the conductors and 10 throughasymmetric units 28 and 29, respectively, in the manner described inconnection with Fig. 4. The apparatus shown in this view differs fromthat ot Fig. 4, however, in that the locking magnet 19 is a singlewinding which is connected across the conductors 35 and 40 through anasymmetric unit 59 when contact K2 is closed and is` connected acrossthese conductors through an oppositely disposed asymmetric unit 57 whencontact K1 is closed.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 8, 4 and 5 is similarv tothe operation of the apparatus shfnvn inthe two preceding views and will'be readily understood without tracing the cycle of operation in detail.Although I have herein shown and dcscribed only a few forms ot apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodilications may be made therein within the scope of theA ape pendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thusdescribed my invention what I claim is:

1. In combination, a switch valve comprising a normal, a reverse and alock magnet, a railway switch controlled by said valve, a switch leverhaving ynormal and reverse positions, a circuit for the `normal magnetincluding a normal contact ci the switch lever and a first asymmetricunit, a circuit for the reverse magnet including a reverse. contact ofthe switch lever andl a second' asymmetric unit, contacts operated byAsaid switch, and .circuits for said lock magnet controlled bysaidswitch lever contacts and by said switch operated contacts and includingasymmetric. units.

2. In combination, a switch valve comprising a normal, a reverse and alock soy lmeans etlective magnet, a. ailway switch controlled by saidvalve, a switch lever having normal and reverse positions, a circuit forthe normal magnet including a normal contact of the switch lever and airst asymmetric unit, a circuit tor the reverse magnet including aAreverse contact ot the switch lever and a second asymmetric unit, twocontacts op- @rated by the switch, and two circuit-s tor the lock magnetcontrolled by the switch lever and each including one of said contactsand an asymmetric unit.

3. ln combination, a switch valve coinprising a normal, a reverse and alock magnet, a rail'miy switch controlled by said valve, a switch leverhaving normal. and reverse positions, a circuit for the normal magnetincluding a normal contact ot the switch lever and a iirst asymmetricunit, a circuit for the reverse magnet including a reverse contact ofthe switch lever and a second asymmetric unit, two contacts responsiveto the position of the switch, means etlective when one of such circuitsis closed and when one ot said contacts is closed tol supply energy tothe lock magnet, and when thel other circuit is closed and when theother contactis closed to supply current to the lock magnet.

Ll. In combination, a Vswitch valve comprising a normal, a reverse and aloch magnet, a railway switch controlled by said valve, a switch leverhaving normal and reverse positions, a circuit 'lor the normal magnetincluding a normal contact of the switch lever and a first asymmetricunit, a circuit for the reverse magnet including a reverse contact orthe switch lever and a second asymmetric unit, two contacts controlledin accordance with the position ot the switch, and means including` saidtwo contacts for supplying current to the lock magnet in parallel withthe normal or reverse magnet'depending upon the position or the lever.

5. In combination, a pair ot conductors, means for reversibly supplyingcurrent to the conductors; a switch valveV comprising a normal magnet, areverse magnet, and a lock magnet having two windings;V means includingtwo oppositely disposed asymmetric units for connecting the normal andreverses magnets in parallel across the conductors, a railway switchcontrolled by the switch valve, and two contacts controlled inaccordance with the position of the switch Y and connected in serieswith tho windings respectively of the loclr magnet across saidconductors.

`G. In combination, a pair ot conductors, means for reversibly supplyingcurrent to the conductors; a switch valve comprising a normal magnet anda reverse magnet connected in parallel across the conductors and a lockmagnet having two windings, a lirst asymmetric unit interposed betweenthe normal magnetrand one conductor, a. second asymmetric unitinterposed between the reverse magnet and one of tle conductors, arailway switclrcontrolled by the switch valve, two contacts controlledin accordance with the position of the switch, means including one et'said contacts for connecting one winding oit the lock magnet in parallelwith the normal magnet, and means including the remaining contact :torconnecting the other winding ot the lock magnet in pa 'allel Awith thereverse magnet.

"l". ln combination, a railway switch having normal and reversepositions, means for operating the switch including a normal and areverse magnet, a pair oit conductors connected withl both said magnets,a source of current, a manually operable lever for reversiiblyconnecting` the source with the conductors, a first asymmetric unitinterposed between the normal magnet and a conductor tor preventing theflow or 'current et one polarity through the normal magnet, and a secondasymmetric unit interposed bctween the reverse magnet and a conductorfor preventing the flow of current ot the opposite polarity through thereverse magnet.

8. In combination, a switch valve com-- prising a normal, a reverse, anda lock magnet, a railway switch controlled by the switch valve, a pairetv conductors connected with the normal and the reverse magnets,manually controlled means for reversib-ly supplying current to theconductors. a lirst asymmetric unit interposed between the normal magnetand a conductor for preventing the llow of current of one polaritythrough the normal magnet, and a second asymmetric unit interposedbetween the reverse magnet and a conductor for preventing the flow ot'current of the opposite polarity through the reverse magnet, a contactcontrolled bv the switch, and means controlled by the Contact for attimes connecting the lock magnet with the conductors.

9. In combination, a switch valve comprising anormal, a reverse, and aloc-lf. magnet, a railway switch controlled by the switch valve, a pairof conductors connected with the normal and the reverse magnets,manually controlled means for reversibly supplying current to theconductors, a lirst asymmetric unit interposed between the normal magnetand a conductor tor preventing the flow of current ot one polaritythrough theV normal magnet, and a second asymmetric unit interposedbetween the reverso magnetand a conductor tor preventing the liow ofcurrent of the opposite polarity through the reverso magnet, twocontacts controlled by the switch and means controlled by each contactfor at times connecting the loclr magnet with the conductors.

llO

10. In combination, with a railway switch, two windings for controllingthe switch, two contacts controlled by the switch, two asymmetric units,means including one of said contacts and one of said units for supplyingcurrent to one winding, and means including the other contact and theother unit for supplying current to the other winding.

11. In combination, a railway switch having a normal and a reverseposition, a iirst Contact open only when the switch is normal, a secondcontact open only when the switch is reverse, two asymmetric units, twowindings for controlling the switch, aV circuit for one'windingincluding the rst contact and one of said asymmetric units, and acircuit for the other magnet including` the remaining asymmetric unitand thc second contact.

l2. In combination, a pair of conductors, means for reversibly supplyingcurrent to such conductors, a railway switch having a normal and areverse position, a first contact open only when the switch is normal, asecond contact open only when the switch is reversed, two windings forcontrolling the switch, two asymmetric units, means including one ofsuch units and said first contact for at times supplying current of onepolarity rom the conductors to one of the windings, and means includingthe other asym-` metric unit and the second contact tor at timessupplying current of the other polarity from the conductors to theremaining winding.

13. In combination, a railway switch, contacts controlled in accordancewith the position of the switch, a manually operable lever, two windingsfor controlling the switch, and means including asymmetric units forcontrolling the windings selectively in accordance with the condition ofsaid leverk and of said contacts.

14. In combination, a pair of conductors, means for reversibly supplyingcurrent to such conductors, a railway switch, two mag-- nets for'controlling the switch, a first asymmetric unit for connecting onemagnet across the conductors, and a second asymmetric unit forconnecting the other magnet aci-css the conductors.

15. In combination, a motor, means including a magnet for controllingthe supply of energy to said motor, two contacts responsive to thecondition of said motor, and means including asymmetric units forcontrolling the magnet by a selected one of such contacts.

1G. In combination, a pair of conductors, means for reversibly supplyingcurrent to the conductors; a switch valve comprising a normal magnet; areverse magnet, and a lock magnet having two windings; a railway switchcontrolled by said switch valve, means for connecting one ,terminal ofeach said winding and one terminal of the normal and reverse magnetswith one of said conductors, means including a first asymmetric unit forconnecting the free terminal oi the normal magnet with the othercon-`ductor, means including a second asymmetric unit for coni'iecting thefree terminal of the reverse magnet with said other conductor, and twocontacts controlled in accordance with the position of the switch forseparately connecting the free terminals of the windings of the lockmagnet with saidffree terminals of the normal and reverse magnetsrespectively.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HAROLD S. LOOMIS.

